Liquid composition for electronic cigarettes

ABSTRACT

The liquid composition for electronic cigarettes includes water, a natural glycol, glycerol, natural flavorings and possibly nicotine. The natural glycol is composed of 1,3-propanediol, obtained through bioprocessing of corn sugars.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes.

BACKGROUND ART

It has been known for a long time that electronic smoking substitutive devices are used, commonly known as electronic cigarettes, enabling the user to inhale a substance which emulates the flavour of the traditional secondary products of the tobacco, but which do not produce any flame or smoke. The inhalable substance, in the form of vapour, may contain nicotine or not, in addition to a suitable flavouring. In practice, electronic cigarettes make the user feel a sensation similar to the one provided by traditional smoking products, such as cigars and cigarettes, but they are potentially less harmful to health as there is no combustion.

The electronic cigarettes generally contain a rechargeable electric battery, an atomizer powered by a battery and a container for the liquid to be vaporized placed in contact with the atomizer. When the atomizer is activated, by means of the electric battery, the liquid solution in the container vaporizes and can be inhaled by the user.

An electronic cigarette of such type is described for example in patent application GB 2,465,247. Such electronic cigarette is substantially made up of a tubular element housing a tank which contains a liquid to be vaporized for producing the inhalable substance. The liquid is composed for example of a water solution of nicotine, propylene glycol and other flavourings.

EP 1 618 803 discloses an electronic cigarette which provides the use of a water solution of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, organic acids, antioxidant agents and aromatic substances. In particular the quantity of nicotine is 0.1-6%, the propylene glycol is 80-90% and the organic acids are 0.2-20%.

Actually, the composition of the liquid to be vaporized can be very different, to meet the personal taste and the exigencies of the users. For example, the percentage of nicotine in the composition can vary within a relatively wide range, corresponding to the smoker's habits, until annulling when the user has chosen or has been forced to give up smoking. At the same way, the flavourings present in the composition can be different and in different percentage to give the inhalable substance a taste desirable to the user.

Patent application WO2012/088675 discloses for example a vaporizable solution for electronic cigarettes which comprises an extract of tobacco leaves, nicotine, a stabilizer, a thickening agent, propylene glycol, purified water and a group of vitamins. Such composition improves the vitamin supply to the body through the absorption through the mucous membrane of the nose and of the mouth.

Anyway, the use of the electronic cigarettes, as smoking substitutive device, is not unproblematic with respect to the composition of the inhalable substance. In particular, the presence of propylene glycol, generally used as vaporizable excipient together with the vegetal glycerol and with the water for diluting nicotine, is generally problematic since it is a very hygroscopic substance. The propylene glycol is usually obtained by chemical synthesis from propylene, a gas industrially produced via the cracking of heavier hydrocarbons. More specifically, the propylene glycol is obtained by the reaction of hydration of propylene oxide. The propylene glycol contains traces of oil resulting from the manufacturing process and therefore, if it is present in high amounts, it contributes to emphasize the feeling known to smokers as “shot in the throat”, mainly due to nicotine. However, the presence of propylene glycol in the solution can lead to a series of negative effects for the user, such as in particular the appearance of sensitization and/or allergies. Other side effects have been also recorded resulting from inhalation of propylene glycol, such as respiratory irritation, nausea, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and sweating.

Patent application WO 2013/088230 describes a composition for electronic cigarettes comprising water, propylene glycol of natural origin and/or glycerin, and natural flavourings.

DISCLOSURE

The task of the present invention is that of solving the aforementioned problems by providing a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprising substances exclusively of natural origin.

Within such task, it is a further scope of the present invention that of providing a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes easy to obtain from substances of vegetal origin.

Another scope of the invention is that of providing a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes containing substances obtained through renewable and sustainable processes.

A further scope of the present invention is that of providing a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes which allows to create a wide range of flavourings.

The cited scopes are attained, according to the present invention, by the liquid composition for electronic cigarettes according to claim 1.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the liquid composition for electronic cigarettes does not contain propylene glycol.

This allows to prevent undesired or possibly dangerous effects to the health of the user due to the inhalation of propylene glycol.

According to another aspect of the invention, the liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprises a natural glycol composed of 1,3-propanediol, in substitution of propylene glycol.

The use of such natural substance, in substitution of propylene glycol which is of synthetic origin, allows to obtain a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprising substances of exclusively natural origin.

Advantageously, the 1,3-propanediol is obtained through a biologic processing starting preferably from fermentation of corn sugars.

Preferably, the 1,3-propanediol is present in a quantity comprised between 32% and 98% in weight.

BEST MODE

The liquid composition for electronic cigarettes according to the present invention comprises water, a natural glycol in substitution of the synthetic propylene glycol, and possibly glycerol, nicotine and other flavourings.

In particular, the natural glycol used is composed of 1,3-propanediol, which formula is the following.

According to a preferred embodiment, the 1,3-propanediol is obtained starting from corn sugars. In particular, the 1,3-propanediol is obtained through the fermentation of the corn sugars.

The quantity of 1,3-propanediol in the liquid substance according to the present invention is comprised between 32% and 98% in weight.

For example, the used 1,3-propanediol is of the type sold with name “Zemea” (DuPont Tate & Lyle Bioproducts brand).

The flavourings can be of different type, according to the exigencies, for example tobacco or sweet or fruit tasting substances. It is obviously possible to add other components in the liquid composition according to the exigencies.

EXAMPLE 1

The liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprises:

-   -   1,3-propanediol 32-70%;     -   glycerol 12-37%;     -   water 4.5-20%;     -   flavourings 3-9%;     -   nicotine 0-2%.

EXAMPLE 2

The liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprises:

-   -   1,3-propanediol 74-98%;     -   water 1.5-8.5%;     -   flavourings 3-8%.

The composition according to the present invention achieves the scope of providing a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprising only substances of natural origin.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the liquid composition for electronic cigarettes is easy to obtain from substances of natural origin.

The natural glycol 1,3-propanediol is, in fact, the result of a biologic processing which starts from products of natural origin.

Moreover, the process for obtaining the natural glycol 1,3-propanediol is renewable and sustainable from the ecologic point of view, giving clear advantages in terms of saving energy resources and respect of the environment.

An important feature of the present invention concerns the non-irritating and non-sensitizing characteristics of natural glycol 1,3-propanediol, which therefore does not produce such side effects on the user. Therefore, the safety linked to the use of liquid for electronic cigarettes is significantly increased with regard to the protection of the health of the user.

The liquid composition for electronic cigarettes described for exemplary purpose is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants according to the exigencies. 

1. A liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprising a natural glycol composed of 1,3-propanediol, wherein the composition does not comprise propylene glycol.
 2. A liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein said 1,3-propanediol is obtained through bioprocessing of corn sugars.
 3. A liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein said 1,3-propanediol is obtained through the fermentation of corn sugars.
 4. A liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein said 1,3-propanediol is present in a quantity comprised between 32% and 98% in weight.
 5. (canceled)
 6. A liquid composition according to claim 2, wherein said 1,3-propanediol is obtained through the fermentation of corn sugars.
 7. A liquid composition according to claim 2, wherein the liquid composition comprises between 32% and 98% weight percent of said 1,3-propanediol.
 8. A liquid composition according to claim 3, wherein the liquid composition comprises between 32% and 98% weight percent of said 1,3-propanediol.
 9. An electronic cigarette method comprising the steps of: providing a liquid composition for electronic cigarettes comprising a natural glycol composed of 1,3-propanediol, wherein the composition does not comprise propylene glycol; and using said liquid composition in an electronic cigarette.
 10. An electronic cigarette method according to claim 9, wherein said 1,3-propanediol is obtained through bioprocessing of corn sugars.
 11. An electronic cigarette method according to claim 9, wherein said 1,3-propanediol is obtained through corn sugar fermentation.
 12. An electronic cigarette method according to claim 9, wherein the liquid composition comprises between 32% and 98% weight percent of said 1,3-propanediol.
 13. An electronic cigarette method according to claim 10, wherein said 1,3-propanediol is obtained through the fermentation of corn sugars.
 14. An electronic cigarette method according to claim 9, wherein the liquid composition comprises between 32% and 98% weight percent of said 1,3-propanediol.
 15. An electronic cigarette method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid composition comprises between 32% and 98% weight percent of said 1,3-propanediol. 